The winegrowers generally do not like to communicate too much on the thing, preferring to put forward the image of Epinal of the grapes harvested by pickers, the nose in the leaves, shears in hand. However, at a time when the harvest is in full swing, more than 70% of French vines are indeed harvested by machine. Mechanization has become established in all the major wine-growing countries, including certain grand cru estates. And it is in France that is located, by far, the world’s largest grape harvesting machine factory. More precisely in Vendée, in Coëx, an hour’s drive from the Nantes vineyards.
Nearly 520 machines per year are designed from A to Z on this immense site belonging to the Italian-American group. CNH Industrial. They are marketed under the brand new hollandwell known to farmers for its tractors and harvesters, but also display the Braud brand, in reference to the French pioneer of wine mechanization in the mid-1970s.
“It really revolutionized the harvest,” says Thierry Le Briquer, development manager for CNH’s fruit and vegetable sector. The development has been gradual at the pace of technological improvements. We also had to convince because in France we touch on a part of our culture. Today, very few winegrowers can do without it, especially with recruitment difficulties. »
“Wherever wine is produced, we are there”
Sold between 210,000 and 500,000 euros depending on the models and options, a machine harvests an average of one hectare per hour. The equivalent of the work of around forty pickers. It works by “shaking” the vines. “The tremors cause the grapes to fall, which are picked up by the noria (small baskets). The impurities, fragments of leaves, of wood, are then sorted and the grains isolated in a skip,” summarizes Thierry Le Briquer. The performance of the machines is such that they can adapt to the height of the vine, the width of the rows, select the fineness of sorting the berries and offer an air-conditioned cabin equipped with digital tools.
New Holland Braud, which is currently expanding the surface area of its premises in Vendée to be able to increase production, exports its harvesting machines to 30 countries (Spain, Italy, United States, South Africa, Australia, etc.), including unexpected vineyards like Poland, Belgium or the Netherlands. “Wherever we produce wine, we are present, believes Thierry Briquer. Some large US operations have as many as 40 machines. “Sales have been stable for several years, the market being mainly renewals. “The lifespan of our machines stretches between 7 and 15 years. However, there is significant growth in certain northern countries, such as England. This is the consequence of global warming. »
The machine doesn’t just have friends
In France, some steeply sloping vineyards do not allow mechanical harvesting. Some AOCs also prohibit the use of machinery (Champagne, Jurançon, Limoux, etc.), while other operators refuse to do so at all costs. Part of the profession accuses it of damaging the vines, of damaging the soil, of badly selecting the grapes, even of altering the quality of the wine, in particular of the reds. “There are mostly received ideas, challenges Thierry Le Briquer. We have gone back 40 years now. We know that machines have not accelerated the renewal of the vines. Technology has progressed enormously and the grape harvester remains a guarantee of reliability: owners can harvest at the right time, even at night, regardless of the weather conditions or the staff available. »
The manufacture of harvesting machines is a French specialty since the main competitors of New Holland Braud are Pellenc, a company from Vaucluse, and Grégoire, based in Charente.
In addition to the grape harvesting activity, the world leader produces “high-clearance” tractors in Vendée, tractors specially adapted for passing through narrow rows of vines, often prestigious vineyards. New Holland Braud also develops robotization solutions adapted to the other missions of winegrowers. The Coëx “centre of excellence”, which employs around 400 people, also produces machines for harvesting olives and almonds.